Search and Rescue

Explain to your counselor the hazards you are most likely to
encounter while participating in search and rescue (SAR) activities,
and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and
respond to these hazards.

Discuss first aid and prevention for the types of injuries or
illnesses that could occur while participating in SAR activities,
including: snakebites, dehydration, shock, environmental emergencies
such as hypothermia or heatstroke, blisters, and ankle and knee
sprains.

Demonstrate knowledge to stay found and prevent yourself from becoming
the subject of a SAR mission.

How does the buddy system help in staying found and safe?

How can knowledge of the area and its seasonal weather changes
affect your plans?

Explain how the Ten Essentials are similar to a 'ready pack.'

Discuss the following with your counselor:

The difference between search and rescue

The difference between PLS (place last seen) and LKP (last known
point)

The meaning of these terms:

AFRCC (Air Force Rescue Coordination Center)

IAP (Incident Action Plan)

ICS (Incident Command System)

Evaluating search urgency

Establishing confinement

Scent item

Area air scent dog

Briefing and debriefing

Find out who in your area has authority for search and rescue and
what their responsibilities are. Discuss this with your counselor, and
explain the official duties of a search and rescue team.

Working with your counselor, become familiar with the Incident Command
System. You may use any combination of resource materials, such as printed
or online. Discuss with your counselor how features of the ICS compare
with Scouting's patrol method*

Identify four types of search and rescue teams and discuss their
use or role with your counselor. Then do the following:

Interview a member of one of the teams you have identified above,
and learn how this team contributes to a search and rescue operation.
Discuss what you learned with your counselor.

Describe the process and safety methods of working around at
least two of the specialized SAR teams you identified above.

Explain the differences between wilderness, urban, and water
SARs.

Discuss the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system, latitude,
and longitude. Then do the following: (add map)

Using a 1:24,000 scale USGS topographic map, show that you can
identify a location of your choice using UTM coordinates.

Using a 1:24,000 scale map, ask your counselor to give you a
UTM coordinate on the map, then identify that location.

Show that you can identify your current location using the UTM
coordinates on your Global Positioning System unit and verify it
on a 1:24,000 scale map.

Determine a hypothetical place last seen, and point out an area
on your map that could be used for containment using natural or
human-made boundaries.

Choose a hypothetical scenario, either one presented in this merit
badge pamphlet or one created by your counselor. Then do the following:

Complete an incident objectives form for this scenario.

Complete an Incident Action Plan (IAP) to address this scenario.

Discuss with your counselor the behavior of a lost person and
how that would impact your incident action plan (for example, the
differences between searching for a young child versus a teen).

After completing 8a–8c, discuss the hypothetical scenario with
your counselor.

Discuss with your counselor the terms hasty team and hasty search.
Then do the following:

Plan and carry out a practice hasty search—either urban or wilderness—for
your patrol or troop. Include the following elements in the search:
clue awareness, evidence preservation, tracking the subject, and
locating the subject using attraction or trail sweep.

When it's over, hold a team debriefing to discuss the hasty
search. Discuss problems encountered, successful and unsuccessful
tactics, and ideas for improvement.

Find out about three career or volunteer opportunities in search
and rescue. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience
required for this professional or volunteer position. Discuss this with
your counselor, and explain why this position might interest you.

A Note About Unauthorized and Restricted Activities
The BSA's Guide to Safe Scouting states under "Unauthorized and Restricted
Activities" that flying in aircraft as part of a search and rescue mission
is an unauthorized activity for youth members. For complete information,
see http://www.
scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety.aspx.

*Scouts who have already completed the original requirement 5 as published
in the current Search and Rescue merit badge pamphlet need not redo this
updated requirement in order to earn the badge.

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